Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-13

pretty country home full of boarders
and the little mistress too feverishly busy
to observe or care for the surprise OF
some of her stylish neighbors at this
new enterprise. Her husband was evil
IDENTIFY trying to lay by money, thing he
had never done in all his careless life
before. She did not know why, she did
not want to know but she threw her whole
strength into helping him.
The months went by; the nights and
mornings grew frosty; the naples hung
out red banners here and there among
the green leaves; and the trailing vines
began to lose their vigor. The summer
guests dropped away one after another
and it was we'll they did, for the overtaxed
mistress Of 'Arrowwood" gave way al
last and lay i'll for weeks with nervous
prostratiOn.
s'Has Mr.. PenIittle some?" The inva
lid was sitting up for the first time, be
fore light, comforting blaze, which
lent faint coler to her white cheek.
''I see his carriage this minute, ma'am,
answered the nurse who was holding
Frank PenlittlG, Jr., on The window
| seat.
Papa ummin, papa tummin," shouted
the three-year- old boy, jumping up and
down till bis yellow curls danced jig.
SEQ and ask him to come up at once,
Susan, and put frankie in the carriage
for little drive.'
The message was hardly necessary,
since Mr. Penlittle never turned to the
right nor left after reaching the porch
steps till he had seen bis wife. To-day
something else flushed her face besides
the freight, as she lifted it to meet the
shower of kisses.
GLOW is my little forlornity today"
She did not answer the playful ques-
ton, but held out letter which had
come to her in his absence. Her hus-
band read it like man in dream,
turned back and re-read it, and, though it
was but one brief page, seemed unable
| to take it in. The wife arose, took a
few feeble steps about the room to quiet
her Impotence, While Mr.. Penlittle was
reading the letter; he rose too and put
| his arm around her.
''Win it do, Frank?" she asked with
| trembling eagerness, "Is it enough with
what you have?" And he answered with
a burst OF tears!
The letter was from Lawyer Vance ~
forming Mrs. Penlittle that her grand
fathers estate, which had been left in a
tied, and that her share, thirty thousand
dollars, would now be handed TO her hus
band, or if she preferred, would be put
to her individual credit.
Would this Tighten the terrible weight
that had changed her happy, careless
husband into q careworn, depressed, al
most old man! The time had come for
her to know fully the fact which her
quick instinct had long ago devined, that
Mr.. Penlittle, and not Arthur Mawbray
had been guilty of dishonesty in the
matter of the banks fifty thousand dol
lars.
'Idid not intend to take the money
you know that Marie" he cried, for 6
nature like Frank Penllttle's can not
even repent strongly; "but 1 was foo
enough to tamper with it, knave enough
[ ought to say. In some tempting spec
ulation lost the money, and it set me
crazy to think what I had done; what
had brought on you, darling, and the boy
When it was all up with me, and | knew
that IN another hour I should be arrested
/ went out to buy" Mr.. Penlittle hest
tated and Maria's tinge OF color vanished
suddenly. 81 was about TO add the ac
of q mailman to that of thief" he went
on, bitterly, when Mowbray found me
and you know the rest. He plead with me
for your sake and the boys to let him
bear the shame; said he was alone III the
world, and that he would as soon live In
Mexico as anywhere; that he would be 6
happier man If [ would give him chance
to save you and our child from disgrace
Oh, he tempted me, and [ yielded as
had done to the first te1nptation; as
suppose always will to the end of the
chapter"
The wife, Heavens merciful sift te
this erring soul. laid her soft, firm hand
in his and hope stole back to his side.
II got hold of Mowbray's property as
he directed, and paid the debt, and now
"Now, husband interrupted the wife
her eyes shining with great light, ''now
we can undo our great wrong to this
noble soul. You know where he is? Let
US start at once to take his place, and
send him back with his good name and
his redeemed fOrtUue, aud our eternal
gratitude that he has saved you, and given
you the blessed chance to begin over
again in new country. Make haste, lei
Us go at once"
There was a patter of little feet at the
door, end Mr.. Fenlittle, springing up
hastily, brought in the fair-haired child
and held him up to the mother, mute
protest that he dared not put in words
She broke down and sobbed bitterly; bat
seeing the look Of utter misery on he.
husbands face, she bravely steadied he,
voice.
SIT will be better for him, husband. tic
have a father who is sorry for wrong do
ing, and tries to undo it, than to have al
that this country can give him." And
then, woman like, she wept harder than
before.
On the 22d of December, the Penlittles
father, mother and boy, were on the Vera
Ccuz & Mexican railroad, approaching
the City of Mexico. 1t was hard for them
to realize that it was Christmas time
when, instead of ice and snow and bitter
wind, they were riding with the windows
open, and snuffing in delight of jessa
mine, roses and myrtle.
The city rose before them, countless
towers and domes and steeples rejecting
the bright sun rays; the numerous pub.
lie squares, supplied with trees and bril-
liant flowers: the wihe, straight, paved
streets, the strongly built stone houses